Tag printing device



28,1937, H1, UPPARD 2,103,752

TAG PRINTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 29', 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HERMAN I,

ATORNEYS Dec, 28, 1937. H. I. LIPPARD 2,1@39752 TAG PRINTIN'DEVICE Filed Aug. 29, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l I l I a j I I INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS E 7 .HEKMAN I. LJ'PPARD negzs, 1937.

H. l. LIPPARD TAG PRINTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 29, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 L a y c 3 S341, INVENTOR. f; F W 1. LIPP RD 2 1 D By W ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 28, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 7 2,103,752 TAG PRINTING DEVICE Herman I. Lippard, Lansdowne, Pa.

Application August 29,

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to tag or ticket printing devices.

The main object of the invention is to provide a tag or ticket printing device of relatively simple, inexpensive and rugged construction, which permits speedy change of type set-up and which is capable of being operated with facility by persons having very little experience.

Another object is toprovide such a device which is capable of printing one or more charact'ers in one or more lines on a relatively small tag or ticket. 7

Another object is to provide such a device which is capable of being readily adjusted to print two or more lines of type very closely together or further apart as may be desired.

Still another object is to provide such a device of relatively light weight compared to the types of printing devices now on the market and the parts of which can be readily and inexpensively replaced with standard parts by persons having comparatively little mechanical ability.

In one of its broad aspects, the device of the invention comprises a base upon which are mounted for reciprocation toward and away from the printing surface one or more typecarrying plates. The plates may advantageously be of substantially flat form disposed with their planes substantially perpendicular to the printing surface and carrying a line of changeable characters'on their lower ends, said line of characters constituting the printing type. The plates are preferably pivoted about a horizontal axis through their planes so that their lower ends may be brought closely together, thus permitting very close spacing of the lines 'of type. The plates may also be pivoted about a horizontal axis perpendicular to their planes so that they may be swung away from the base to facilitate changing of the, type.

The inventive concept involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions one of which, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, is shown in. the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device positioned on a suitable support, part being broken away at several places to show details of construction and one of the type-carrying plates being shown in non-operative position by means of dotand dash lines;

Figure 2 is an end view in elevation, the various possible movements of the type-carrying plates being shown in dot and dash lines;

1933, Serial No. 687,258

Figure 3 is a detail view showing the manner in which the strip of type is connected to the endless cord;

Figure 3a, is a detail view, partly broken away, showing an alternative way of connecting the strip of type to the cord;

Figure 4 is a detail view showing a form of finger-hold which may be used in connection with the device;

Figure 5 is a detail view showing an alternative way of attaching the finger-hold of Figure 4 to the endless cord;

Figure 6 is a detail view of an alternative form of finger-hold;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a detail view showing the manner of pivotally mounting the type-carrying plate to the housing; and

Figure 9 is a view of one of the duplicate faces of an alternative form of type-carrying plate.

Referring in greater detail to Figure 1, the reference character T designates a table top or other suitable support for the device and Tg denotes a tag or ticket in position to be printed upon. The tag or ticket may be of the conventional form of price tag and need not be described in detail.

For the purpose of ready reference and. convenience of description, the description of the device will center about the following elements which may be termed elements of reference; namely, the base portion l, the housing 2, the type-carrying plates 3, 3 and the actuating means 4. v

The base portion l is shown as having the general form of an inverted U, the legs of which are designated as 5, 5 and the connecting or yoke portion as 6. The legs 5, 5 may each be formed with the forwardly extending feet 1, l. l, I not only serve to impart greater stability to the device especially when in use but may also be used as a mechanical aid in properly alining the ticket T0 with the printing elements. of the device.

Pivotally mounted between the legs 5, 5 of the base by means of the fixed transverse rod 8 is the inking pad 9 which may be of conventional form. The pad may be normally maintained with its upper or inking surface l0 against the face of the type by any suitable means. In Figure 2 of the drawings I have shown the pad connected at the point II to the link 12 which in turn is pivotally connected at its opposite end The feet l3 to the angle bar M which is secured in any suitable manner to the housing 2. When the housing 2 is in the position shown by solid lines in Figure 2, the pad is maintained with its upper or inking surface against the type. When the housing 2, as will hereafter be pointed out, moves to its lowermost position shown in dotted lines in the same figure, the connecting link I2 causes the pad to swing out of the way of the type as indicated in dotted lines.

The reference numeral I5 denotes a second inverted U-shaped element which, as shown in Figures 1 and 7, is normally nested within the upper portion of the base member I. The member I5 has the two relatively short legs I6, I6 connected by the yoke portion IT. The inner surfaces of the legs 5, 5 of the base member i and the outer surfaces of the legs IS, IS of the member I5 are provided with cooperating ele ments to permit the member I5 to slide or reciprocate between the legs of the base member. As shown in Figures 1 and '7, the cooperating elements may take the form of a groove I8 in the inner surface of each of the legs 5, 5 and one or more projections or pins I3 on the outer surface of the legs I5, I3. The grooves I3, I8 provide a pair of tracks within the base portion I upon which the U-shaped member I5 may be reciprocated when the device is actuated in the manner to be hereinafter pointed out.

The housing 2 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is secured to the yoke portion I 1 of the element I5 by means of the connecting element 25 which may advantageously be formed integrally with the yoke portion I1. The housing 2 is substantially U-shaped in horizontal cross-section and has the two side Walls 2|, 22. connected together by the end wall 23. The end wall 23 is shown as being provided with the horizontal slot 24 for a purpose to be hereinafter pointed out.

Each of the type-carrying plates 3 is of identical construction and consists of an upper substantially rectangular portion 25 and a lower substantially rectangular portion 26 of less width. Secured in any suitable manner to each side of the upper end of the portion 25 is a metallic strip 2'l, each of which strips extends a short distance above the upper end of the portion 25. The upper end of the portion 25 and the upper edge of each of the metallic strips 2'! are provided with the series of rectangular notches 28 forming the series of teeth 29.

Mounted on the upper end of the type-carrying plate and clamped between the metallic strips 2'! in the plane of the plate 3 is a fixed shaft 35. Mounted on this shaft in each of the notches 28 is a small pulley 3!.

One corner of the lower end of the portion 25 of the plate 3 (see Figure 8) is provided with a cut-out 32. Secured to each side of the lower end of the portion 25 is a metallic strip or side plate 33. These strips extend over the cut-out 32 and are provided with the lugs 34. The lugs and the cut-out form a bifurcated ear, which as will hereinafter be pointed out serves to pivotally connect the plate 3 to the housing 2.

The reference numeral 35 designates a series ofendless type-carrying cords, each of which passes completely about both faces and the ends of the type-carrying plate 3. The cords are trained about the pulleys 3| and for the length of the broader or upper portion 25 of the plate 3 are maintained in spaced-apart parallel relation by means of the second set of pulleys 35. A third set of pulleys 31 serves to bring and maintain the cords 35 into closer parallel relation for the entire length of the lower or narrower portion 26 of the plate 3. It is to be understood that both faces of the plate 3 are provided with the sets of pulleys 35 and 3?. The pulleys 36 and 31 are disposed with their axes at right angles to the plate 3.

Each one of the cords 35 carries a flexible strip 38 (preferably of rubber) bearing raised characters which may take the form of letters, numerals and symbols such as are indicated by the reference numeral 39. In Figures 3 and 3a. are illustrated two of the many possible ways of connecting the strip of type 33 to the cord 35. In Figure 3 the end of the strip 33 is shown folded about the end of the cord 35 and a clamp 40 of fiexible metal clamping the two together. The clamp may be similar to the conventional type of shoe lace tip. In Figure 3a the flexible strip 38 is shown secured to the clamp 43a by means of crimping or in other suitable manner and the end of the cord 35 threaded through an aperture 432) of the clamp and knotted as at Mic. The described manner of connecting the cords 35 and the strips 38 renders it a very simple matter to replace th strips 33 Whenever deemed necessary or desirable.

The reference numerals Al and 4! designate two alternative forms of finger holds for moving the cords 35 for the purpose to be hereinafter pointed out. The finger hold M is a cylindrical piece of metal or other suitable material having a central bore and a series of connecting circular recesses 42. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate two altern-ative ways of connecting the finger hold ll to the cord 35. In Figure 5 the cord 35 is shown as passing entirely through the bore of the element 4| and being secured to said element by engagement between a knot 43 formed in the cord and one of the recesses 32 in the element. In Figure 4 the cord 35 is shown as having the two free juxtaposed ends, both of which ends are provided with the knots M which engage in the recesses 42 in the element ll.

The alternative form of finger hold shown in Figure 6 is a cylindrical element 6i having a bore 45 and one or more threaded or tapped holes 46 at right angles to the bore to receive the set screws 41. The cord 35 passes through the bore 45 and is clamped against the threaded hole as at 48 by means of the set screw Al The knots 49 may be used instead of the finger holds 4i and M to move the cords 35.

It will be understood from the foregoing de scription that the line of type on the bottom end of the plate 3 constitutes the active or print-- ing type when the device is actuated. As has been previously pointed out, the inking surface It of the inking pad 9 is normally pressed against the printing type until it is pushed out of the way by the actuation of the device. By means of the finger holds 4| it is possible to bring any desired arrangement or combination of letters, numerals and symbols to the bottom of the plate. In order to facilitate the printing operation. the cords should be taut. For this reason, the cords should be made of a material having a very small stretch. The manner of connecting the cord 35 to the finger hold 4i shown in Figure 4 renders it a simple matter to keep the cords 35 taut. If the cord loses some of its tautness, it is only necessary to move the knots 4-4 to recesses 42 which are closer together. The same function is possible in the modification shown in Figure 6.

of the locking element 51. It will be understood :that the length of each of the bent ends 53 is about half of the thickness of the plate S. The

.e'n d wall' 23 of the housing 2. 'lfigure the plate 3 is pivotally connected to the element 5! which in turn is detachably connected In order to maintain the type properly alined and to enable several lines of type to be printed closely together, I may provide the device with the clamping-means nowto be described. The

clamping means consists of two duplicate members 5i, 5! in the form of metallic strips hingedly connected together and to one edge 52 of the lower-end of the plate 3. 'Each of'the'strips 5! is provi'ded with abent end portion 53 having an aperture 5 to receive one of the pins 55 and 56 locking element 51 is pivotally'connected at53 to the plate 3 by means of its bifurcated end '59.

.The slot adjacentthe lower end of theplate 3 serves to facilitate the clamping action of the clamping means. Each of the strips 5| and the lower .edge of the slot 69 grip the type-bearing stripstt between them, a portion of each of the [strips 38 being forced into the slot. In this way the thickness of the clampedportion of the type- .bearing strips 38 is reduced to a minimumgthus making it possible to space the lines of printing very closely together.

' Reference will now be made to Figure 8, wherein is illustrated the manner in which each of the type-carrying plates 3 is pivotally mounted on the As shown in said to the end wall 23. The element 5! has a flat body portion 62 which is parallel to the end wall 23 andterminates at its upper end in the outwardly extending lug or ear 63 and at its lower end in the inwardly extending bifurcated portion 164. The lug E3 is received in the bifurcated ear of the plate 3 which has been described as being formed by the cut-out portion 32 and the lugs 34 and is pivoted thereto at by means of a pin or rivet. The element 6| is detachably connected to the end wal1 23 of the housing at a .point intermediate its ends by means of the screw '65 and the washer plate 61.

The screw passes through the washer plate, the aperture 2a in the end wall 23 and the body portion 620i the element 6 and may be provided near its thread- .ed end with a nut (not shown). The washer plate 61 isshown provided with the struck-in portions 168 which engage in the slot 24 to keep the washer plate from rotating. The bifurcated lower end 84 of the element 5! as shown in Figure 1 extends inwardly below the lower end of the end wall 23 ,for a purpose to be pointed out.

"From the foregoing description it is thought to be clear that each of the type-carrying plates '3maybe swung about the pivot 65 to a position inside or outside of the housing 2. In Figure 1,

one of the plates 3 is shown in its position within the housing in solid lines and in its position outside the housing in dot and dash lines. It is to benoted that when inside the housing, the broad portion25 of the plate v3 is disposed upwardly while in its outside position the narrow portion 25 is disposed upwardly; Also, that in its inside position-the narrow portion'25 fits in between the forks of the bifurcated end 64 of the element 6!.

One edge of the narrow portion 26' is provided with a notch 89 to accommodate the head of the screwfii and the washer 6'! when the plate 3 is in its'position within th'e'housing. The opposite edge is provided with a notch'SSa which cooperates with the pivoted member H! of a locking device to maintain the plate 3 in upright position f within the housing '2. The member 10 is pivoted to the inner side Wall 22 of the housing at 12- for movementin a horizontalplane and is received within the notch 69a and under the pin H which is fixed to an edge of the outer side wall: 2 l. The lower or narrow portion 28 of the typecarrying plate 3' may be long enough to provide for strips 38 carrying a full complement of characters. However, to avoid excessive height of the plates 3 in case a great number of characters are used, the alternative form of plate 3 shown-in Figure 9 may be substituted for one or more of the-plates 3. The plate 3 issubstantially rectangular at its upper endan'd is bifurcated at its lower end by the slot 80. The two bifurcations are designated by-the numerals 81 and 82. It is 'to-benoted that the fork BI is approximately-twice as wideas fork'BZ but is' somewhat shorter. The lower end of the fork 82 may advantageously be disposed at an obtuse angle with its outeredge; l y

The structure of both faces of the plate 3 is identical and hence only one face need be described; it being understood that each of the details now to be described is duplicated foreach side. ley-carrying plate of substantially triangular shape, the sides being designated in order of their length by'the numerals-84, and 86. The longest side 84 is substantially superposed along the upper end of the plate 3' and the apex of the triangle is substantially in a straight line above the slot Bil. The side 85 of the triangle is disposed to the side cf-the plate 3' corresponding The reference character 83 denotes a'pulto the wide bifurcation 8! while the shortest side 86 is disposed to the side corresponding to the narrow bifurcation 82. Along the side 85 is spaced the series of pulleys 81 and along the side 88-is spaced the series of pulleys 88, the number of pulleys in the two series being equal.

Along'the lower end of the bifurcation 8| is secured the strip 89 having the notches 90 which are equal in number to the pulleys in each of the sets 8'? and 88. In each of the notches is mounted a pulley 9! with its axis in the plane 3. Each "pulley l is mounted on a separate horizontal shaft 9 in. The bifurcation 82 is shown provided with the slot 92. Passing over each of thepulleys '9! about the lower end of the bifurcation 8| over the corresponding pulley of each of the sets 81 and 88 and about the lower end of the bifurcatype ea. The lower end of the bifurcation '82 may be provided with the teeth or serrations 94a to separate the type-bearing strips 94. The structure of the cords 93, the strips of type 9.4 and the finger holds 95 may be the same as that "of the" corresponding elements of the previously strips 95 and the locking element 91 which isshown pivoted intermediate its ends to the inner.

tion 82 is an endless cord 93 carrying a strip of edge of the bifurcation 82. The hinged strips 96 and the locking element 8'! may be provided with cooperating elements (not shown) such as the -apertures 5 i and pins-55, 56 of the clamp shown in Figure 1. The plate 3 may be also provided with the bifurcated ear 98 for pivotally mounting the plate on the housing 2. It is thought to be obvious from the foregoing description that the plate 3' may be swung to a position within the housing or to a position outside the housing in the same manner as can plate 3.

The device of the invention may be either hand or machine operated. For convenience of illustration, the device is shown as being handactuated. The actuating means is indicated generally by the reference numeral 4. The numeral I denotes a handle which is connected to the yoke II of the inverted U-shaped member I by means of a hollow shaft I 0 I. The hollow shaft is connected to the yoke I I in the following manner:The lower end of the shaft is supported on the yoke IT in register with a central aperture I02. A short threaded rod I03 is threadably engaged with the lower end of the hollow shaft IN and extends down through the aperture I02. A nut I03a serves to complete the connection.

As shown in Figure 7 the yoke 6 of the base member I is provided with a central hub I04 through which the shaft I 0| reciprocates when actuated. The shaft IOI is provided with two oppositely disposed vertical slots I05. Resting in a recess I06 on the hub I04 and passing through the two slots I05 of the hollow shaft is a pin I01. Housed within the hollow shaft and resting upon the pin I01 is a coiled spring I08. To reenforce the shaft IM and to impart greater ruggedness and stability to the device, the shaft I0! may be connected directly to the housing 2 by means of the angular member I09.

The operation of the device may be briefly summarized as follows: The device is placed on a fiat surface (see Figure 1), the housing 2 is unlocked by swinging the pivoted member to one side and the type-carrying plates 3 are turned about the pivot 65 to bring them into the position indicated by the dot and dash lines. This brings the printing edge of the plate into full view and renders possible accurate setting of the type. Due to the construction of the device, this operation does not in any way affect its stability. The clamping strips SI, 55 are then unlocked as shown by dot and dash lines and any desired arrangement or combination of characters, letters, figures, etc.

' In practice it has been found preferable to use both hands in moving the type, one hand manipulating a finger hold or knot on one side of the plate and the other hand manipulating a knot or finger hold on the other side of the plate. The clamping strips 5|, 5| are then locked, the plates 3 swung back into the housing 2 and the housing locked by means of the pivoted member 70. One of the plates 3 may be brought into accessible position at a time in order to facilitate the setting of the type.

A tag or ticket is placed in position and the handle I00 of the device pressed down against the tension of the spring I08. This operation forces the ink pad 9 out of the way and presses the type against the printing surface or tag Tg. When the handle is released, the tension of the spring I08 causes the handle to return to normal position and the inking surface of the pad to be pressed into contact with the type, thus inking the type for the next printing operation.

It is to be noted that the connection of the plates 3 to the housing 2 enables the plates to be moved closer together, if desired, and also renders it possible to turn the plates so as to bring their lower ends in close proximity. This makes it possible to print the lines very closely together without bringing the body of the plates so close as to interfere with their swinging movement about the pivot 65.

It is within the purview of my invention to construct the plate or plates 3 or 3' with or without the housing 2 as a unit separate and apart from the specific forms of base I and actuating means 4 which have been illustrated. The unit comprising the plate or plates with or without the housing may be sold for'attachment to a suitable form of base to complete the general combination of the foregoing specification.

I claim:

1. In a tag printing device, the combination of a base, a housing mounted on said base for reciprocation to and away from the printing surface, a type-carrying plate of fiat form pivotally mounted on the housing so that it may be swung in and out of the housing and having one end parallel to the printing surface, a line of changeable type carried by said end of the plate and means to reciprocate th housing to bring said line of type into contact with the printing surface.

2. As an element of a tag printing device, a type-carrying plate of fiat form, a series of spaced endless bands passing about and over a portion of one end of said plate, around both faces and about and over the remaining portion of the said end, the portion of the endless bands passing over the remaining portion of the said end carrying a series of characters.

3. As an element of a tag printing device, a type-carrying plate of fiat form, said plate having a wide upper portion and a narrow lower portion, a series of endless bands passing over and around both ends of said plate and being widely spaced for the length of the wide portion of the plate and closely spaced for the narrow portion of said plate, the portions of the bands which pass over and around the narrow portion of the plate carrying a series of characters and the line of characters carried by the lower end of said plate constituting the printing type.

4. As an element of a tag printing device, a strip of flexible material bearing spaced characters, a cord and means connecting said cord and strip, said means consisting of clamp permanently secured to the strip and detachably connected to the cord.

5. In a tag printing device, the combination of a base, a fiat plate, means for mounting said plate on said base so that it can be reciprocated to and away from a printing surface with its plane perpendicular to the printing surface, means for mounting said plate on said base so that it can be swung to and away from its perpendicular relationship to the printing surface, a line of type carried by the lower end of said plate and means to reciprocate the plate to bring said end into contact with the printing surface to produce a line of printing on said surface.

6. In a tag printing device, a base, a plurality of fiat plates mounted on said base, one or more of said plates being mounted for movement parallel to each other and each plate presenting an end to the printing surface, a line of type on each of said ends and means to bring said ends against the printing surface to produce lines of printing thereon.

'7. In a tag printing device, a base, a plurality of fiat plates mounted on said base and each presenting an end to the printing surface, a line of type on each of said ends, one or more of said plates being pivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the end carrying the type, whereby the ends may be brought into close juxtaposition, and means to bring said ends against the printing surface to produce lines of printing thereon.

8. In a tag printing device, a base, a plurality of flat plates mounted on said base and each presenting an end to the printing surface, a line of type on each of said ends, one or more of said plates being pivotally mounted about an axis perpendicular to its plane, whereby said plate or plates may 7 be swung away from said base, and means to bring the ends of the flat plates carrying the type against the printing surface to produce lines of printing thereon.

9. In a tag printing device, a base, a plurality of flat plates mounted on said base and each presenting an end to the printing surface, a line of type on each of said ends, one or more of said plates being pivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the end carrying the type and one or more of said plates being pivotally mounted about on axis perpendicular to its plane, and means to bring the ends of the fiat plates carrying the type against the printing surface to produce lines of printing thereon.

HERMAN I. LIPPARD. 

